School Bag

The stage play, "School Bag", was a play that was set entirely in a school room setting, whether the events took place before class started, after class or during free periods and recess. Its main idea was to examine the lives of young teenagers in terms of their secret lives which involves their challenges, temptations, trials, social issues as well as their own personal issues.

I believe that this staged play was a really good, and well put together play, in terms of the story line and the idea that was trying to be brought across to the viewers of the play. In addition, I thought that the costumes used throughout the play were quite creative when it comes to the uniforms, for example, when they showed us how the "goody-two-shoes"students use to wear their uniforms, as opposed to how the rude and uncouth students did.

Furthermore, the lights that were used on and off during the play could have been used better when they kept turning them on and off after specific scenes because at some points the person controlling the lights did not seem to know when to turn them off and turn them back on. The sound effects as well could have been utilized a lot better because the music that continued to play on and off during the breaks between the various scenes seemed to have been playing at certain times when music was not suppose to be playing, and when the music was suppose to be playing, it could not be heard until the sound person realized that it was suppose to be playing. In addition to sound effects, the mics that were used appeared to not have been set up properly since at various parts of the play, some persons voices could not be heard.

The use of the back drops, as well as the different props such as the picture of the door, the fake cigarettes and weed, as well as the alcohol bottles and the diary all came together to really bring out the main idea of the play in a more artistic and creative way for the viewing audience. The classroom setting with the chairs and desks were utilized really well by the way in which they flung around the chairs and desks all over the room when there were fights between the various characters. as well as when only one person was in the classroom for a short period of time doign some sort of action. This helped to really show the reader how the characters felt about certain events within the play, what was going on in their lives, how they would try to deal with situations, as well as showing the audience how alone and isolated some teenagers feel at times based on what situations they go through in life.

Overall, the staged play was excellent in terms of story line and concept, a really funny, exciting and educational play that seemed to really helped adults to see how some of the teenagers act at school and how much teenagers really do go through in life. In addition it also helped teens to realise that they can stand up for tehmselves and choose not to follow the "bad crowd" at school and that they should be confident, positive and smart at all times when making decisions. But there were also some minor glitches that could have been cemented in order for the play to have been just a little bit better. But then again, nothing and no one is perfect, and sometimes mistakes can turn into something good, so the play truly was an excellent play despite some of the little problems that occured during the show.

Shakespeare's time

The society of women in Shakespeare:

The society of women in Shakespeare seems to be one of a lower level than that of a man. This is implied by the way in which, Hero, for example did not speak much in the company of men, since in Shakespeare's time, women did not have much say in the conversations of men. They appeared to only be allowed to be seen and not heard. Just like some adults say that children are suppose to be seen and not heard when they're in the presence of an adult conversation due to them not having any say in the conversation. Furthermore, it is made evident by the way in which Leonato's wife had no lines within the play. She was only seen andf had very little or no say in what was going on with her daughter or Messina.

The importance of being a man:

When it comes to being a man in Shakespeare's time, a man is suppose tyo be respected by women and no woman should try to make herself feel higher than any man. In addition to that, men were also expected to protest their country and go to war. Men were alsdo the one's who would become to King's and GOvernors of different countries and opposed to the female children, they would be family hier.

How illegitamate children were looked at:

When it comes to illegitamate children, Don John is given this role within Much ado about Nothing. The illegitamate, in Shakespeare's period, seem to be looked at as those who were looked down upon and rejected by society since they were born out of wedlock. Therefore, despite whether or not the illigetimate child is the oldest in the family, the child who was born within the marriage of the two parents is the one who inherits the family's possesstions. This is made evident by the fact that Don Pedro was the Prince instead of Don John.

The characters that go against their social class:

The character in the play that goes against their social class would have to be Beatrice. This very different woman, is very outspoken and has a mind of her own when it comes to speaking what' s on her mind despite what she was suppose to say, and how she suppose to act in Shakespeare's time. As opposed to only speaking when she's spoken to, Beatrice speaks whenever she has something to say. Especially when it comes to her insulting and arguing with Benedick.

Quotes from 'Much ado about Nothing'

Who is the speaker of these quotes and what dramatic significance do they have, as well as what do they mean?

1) "The savage bull may, but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set them in my forehead, and let me be vilely painted, and in such great letters as they write, here is good horse to hire: let them signify under my sign, here you may see Benedick the married man."
This quote was spoken by Benedick and seems to mean that Benedick is trying to say that is he is ever domesticated it is best that you put the bull's horns on his forehead and instead of putting a sign on his neck saying "Horse for hire" it will say, " Take a look at Benedick, the married man."
The significance of this quote seems to be the fact that it is making the plot clearer and adding interest to the play. This interest to the play is made by the way in which Benedick is convinced that he will NOT get married to anyone and finds that if he was ever to do such a thing it would be best if someone just put a sign on him and made it known to the world.


2) " What should I do with him- dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting gentlewoman? He that hath a beard,is more than a youth : and he that hath no beard, is less than a man: and he that is more than a youth, is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him, therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the Berrord, and lead his apes into hell."
This quote was spoken by none other than Beatrice, and seems to mean that Beatrice doesn't want a man who does not have a beard for he will seem like a lady, and is he has a beard he would be more than a boy which means that he is not for her. If he does not have a beard on the other hand, then he would be less than a man, making her not for him. The rest of the quote means that people say that women who do not marry will go to hell, and Beatrice understands this and believes that it will be her fate to be destined to hell since she will not marry.
The dramatic significance of this quote is to further enhance the plot of the play by showing the audience that Beatrice, like Benedick, is skeptical and refuses to get married, or well seems to believe that they will not get married. As far as Beatrice is concerned, she is not for any man and no man is for her.

Much Ado about Nothing

Much Ado about Nothing, is a romantic comedy drama written by William Shakespeare. The title of the play simply means, a lot of fuss or a lot of bother about nothing, where the people within the play are making a fuss about issues that do not matter or have much point in fussing about. This title seems to be quite appropriate for the play, based on the different scenarios that occur in this romantic comedy. For example, the on going arguments between Beatrice and Bendick that seem to be pointless since they are only doing it so that their feelings for one another are not made obvious. In addition to that, the fact that Don John wants to try to get back at his brother , Don Pedro due to his jealousy for Pedro's power.

It seems as though many of the characters within this play happen to be worrying or bothering with issues that they should not be too concerned with, but interfere and do what they want to nevertheless.

How symbolic is Brother Man?

The novel Brother Man i a very symbolic book. I agree with this statement for various reasons. The book portrays many scenes that make the book very symbolic. With reference to pages 178- 181, there is a biblical allusion that addresses the crucifixion of Jesus. Just like Jesus, Brother Man was turned on by the people with whom he thought believed in him and followed him because he helped them whenever they needed it. They threw rocks at him and totally disguarded all the things Brother Man did for them just to torment him despite the good in him. This also seems to make the story ironic, since it's ironic that a good man would be treated so harshly.
In addition to that, there were also symbols that seem to make people within the novel to have some sort of belief. For example on page 116, when Cordelia heard the owl hoot three times and the dog bayed at the moon. She was terrified when she observed this action taking place and didn't know how to react to it.

The life of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born on April 23rd, 1564, St. George's Day, in Stratford-Upon- Avon in England, to his proud parents, John and Mary Shakespeare. He was the 3rd child of 8 children, as well as the eldest son and had 4 sisters and 3 brothers. Shakespeare seemed to have been well-off in his childhood, in terms of the class him and his family were in and their financial status. This is because his mother was the daughter of a wealthy landowner and his father was a glovemaker and local politician. As a young boy, he enjoyed reading stories written by Latin authors and learning English and Latin. He attained his education at the Stratford Grammar School that he attended from the age of 6 to the age of 13 and even worked as a butcher for period of time.

As Shakespeare got older, he fell in love with a woman by the name of Anne Hathaway, an orphan, with which he married in 1582 while she was pregnant with there first child, Susanna, that was born in 1583. Together with his twins, Hamnet and Judith that were born in February 22nd, 1585, he had 3 children. When it comes to work, William Shakespeare could probably be called a master writer and actor for he was a poet, actor and playwright. He was not one that wrote in Old English, but he wrote in Early Modern English. Some of his work comprises of 154 sonnets, 38 plays which include 14 comedies, 10 histories, 10 tragedies and 4 romances, two of his major poems are "Venus and Adonis" and "Rape of Lucrece" and one of his most famous plays was Hamlet, which was written in 1602. Other than writing, he was also a member and later part owner of the Lord Chamberlain's Men theatre, later called the King's Men. He was also invester in Globe Theatre in 1599, but not for long since it burned down during one of his plays. As he got older he continued to acquire his skills as an actor as well as a playwright until his death on 1616 in England.

William Shakespeare was an extremely talented man who seemed to have had a significant impact in the world since his plays were used many times to make various movies as well as books, for people to watch and read. His plays and poems gives people a better picture of how things use to be in the 16th and 17th Century when it comes to educational purposes, as well as making some interesting plays to watch and enjoy just for the fun of it.

Alaina's reflection on Brother Man

This novel seems to be a very interesting book that gives the reader a view of what really could be happening within different relationships for many people. I think that Girlie and Papacita are always arguing and sometimes Papacita doesn't seem to be paying much attention to her and he doens't show her how much he cares about her as much as he should, since he seems to be always around the place with other women and troubling Minette. On the other hand Girlie can be quite annoying at times when she gives him attitude when he's actually trying to be nice to her.
When it comes to Brother Man and Minette, their relationship seems quite confusing. Minette seems to care about Brother Man a lot and she wants to somehow pay him back for all the things that he has done for her since he took her in and she has also appears to have affectionate feelings for him as well. Brother Man doesn't seem to be taking on her emotions, but he still tries to be really nice to her and take care of her, which seems to get Minette just a little frustrated now and then, since Bro' Man won't "do anything" with her.
Papacita always seems to find himself to be the bad guy in some part of the novel. Whether he is trying to trouble Minette while he's in a relationship with Girlie, and even when he's holding counterfeit coins in his wallet.
As the story continues, it is also seen that Cordelia and Jesmina have some family issues to take care of when Cordelia steals Jesmina's clothes and seems to be losing her mind according to Jesmina. Cordelia, as well, is found with counterfeit money in a cigarette can when Jesmina decides to investigate her room and shortly after gets caught by Jasmina.......
This story just seems to get better and better as the pages are turned.